Automatic lumber-releasing traveling gang saw sawmill



Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. FUGLlE 2,654,926

AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. :5, 1949 a Shets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 015? 4 fZ/a/E mm MM E. A. FUGLIE Jan. 5, 1954 AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3. 1949 E 5 2 a L n t T N m m w w M W s a NE W. fl m i m s m: Q P? f c mm G: 9 W T M QM N3 Q mm E I! K. I R: I a? 'H I H Q2 WW HN 2N Q N? .MMHIM 3 E A 3% E N w llulul mm M fi 5+ 4v AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3, 1949 E. A. FUGLlE Jan. 5, 1954 m m m m E. A. FUGLIE Jan. 5, 1954 AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 0754 fl- F0605 Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. FUGLIE AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I INVENTOR. ZZZ/75F A Fl76L/E Y B M flZTOE/YfS S E. A. FUGLIE Jan. 5, 1954 AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG SAW SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 5mm n m, H W a Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. FUGLIE 2,664,925

AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVELING GANG sAw SAWMILL Filed Aug. 3, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Q uv INVINTOE [AME/P H FOG/J5 BY E TTOFNEYJ Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE 1 6 I AUTOMATIC LUMBER-RELEASING TRAVEL- INQ W S WL Elmer A. Fuglie, Winona, Minn., assignor to Winona vTool Man'ufacturing Company, Wi-. nona, Minn, a partnership Application August 3, 1949,-seri'a1ntgiosais 3 Claims.

This invention relatesto improvements in an automatic saw mill intended to saw logs'or heavy timbers into boards or slabs. In general the invention is concerned with a mill having a traveling saw frame on the engine driven saws are mounted, and the movement of the saw frame and a carry-off conveyor are controlled by a group of electric motors whose operation is controlled by the movement of the saw frame relative to the mill frame. The invention is also concerned with means for gripping the logs or timbers and the release thereof after the sawing opera tion.

Although the sawing of logs'into slabs or boards is well known, it has not heretofore been possible to provide a substantially automatic mill, which after the log has been suitably lodged therein performs all of the sawing and releasing actions necessary to dispose of the boards without manual control or supervision. I I

' In the present invention I have provided av mill into which a log or timber is introduced and secured by a stationary chuck at one end and a movable chuck at the other end. The sawing operation is conducted bytwo separate sets of blades carried by a movable saw'carriage-with the blades of each set operating in the sameplanes and with each set -dr ivenl by 5 an independent engine. The movement of the saw carriage is controlled by a pair of electric motors arranged so that one motor moves the frame in one direction and the other motor serves to re turn the frame to its originalposition. In addition to the frame motors, a third motor is provided for operating a carry-off conveyor situated beneath the saw blades and arranged to receive and carry off the sawed boards. The control of these motors is by a circuit whichincludes switches disposed at the opposite ends of the .mill so as to be actuated by the movement oi the saw frame. ,3.

All of these various control features are properly programed so that after a log or timber has been properly placed in the mill and secured therein by the gripping means, the sawing operation is commenced by the closing of a manual switch and thereafter the various steps including the move-. ment of the saw frame, acceleration and deceleration of the saw engines, the releasing of thesawed timbers, and the return of the saw frame-to its original position occur in properly timed sequence thereby avoiding any possible injury to an opera-.- tor or damage to any part of the mill.

In order to properly discharge the saweduboards a releasing :mechanism .:is-.,.provided1 twhich Jillcludes a first'part carried by the mill and a second part carried by the saw carriage'which-op crates releasing means and simultaneously bumps the several boards from their holding chucks 5 when the operation is completed.

5 An object of the invention is to provide an automatic saw mill for sawing logs or timbers into slabs or boards and in which after a log has been properly placed and'secured'in the mill and the sawing operation commenoedfall other acts including .the'disposition 'oi'the sawed boards are automatically controlled? 1 1 Another object is to provide a mill including amovable saw carriage, together with means for gripping a log and automatically releasing the sawed boards-'by'coaction between portionsbf the mill'and the saw carriage. I

Another object is to provide in a'mill including a movable "saw carriage containing a pair of engines for driving the saws a first pair of motors for controlling the carriage, and a second pair of -m0to1"s' for controlling speed, and a circuit including said motors and switches controlledby the movement of the carriage to control said several motors. I

A further object is to provide in a'mill includihgia'firame and a movable. carriage mounted thereon apairbf electricmotors for controlling the movement of'the carriage and another motor operating "acarry-oii conveyor, together with a suitable circuit-connected to "said motors and operated'bythe movement of the saw carriage to control the operation of the motors in properly timed sequence. F The full objects and advantages of my invention will appearlin connection with the detailed descriptionthe'reof to be given. in the following specification and the important and advantageo usresults'of my invention in producing a 5o ofF grla .7. l.

Fig, 5 Nisan. end elevation view. of, the as seenlfrom the right side of Fig. 1..

Fig. 4'is aside elevation view similar to Fig. 1 with the saw carriage in its forward or most advanced position. .i l

machine whcuy; automatic isawing operation particularly .-2 z i s a, sec,tional plan view taken on line Fig. 4a is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken on line 4a-4a of Fig. 4..

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. '3.

Fig. 5a is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a special type of saw tooth point substantially wider than the thickness of the saw disk employed with my invention.

Fig. 5b is an edge view of the saw shown in Fig. 5a with some parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of one of the chuck plates.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation view taken on line l! of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the driving mechanism only for the saw carriage.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 99 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 10 is a side elevation view of a log-positioner truck taken in association with a central transverse sectional view of the machine showing the manner in which a log is positioned between the side rails laterally and the sets of end chuck plates longitudinally before being secured in position to be sawed.

Fig. 11 is a plan View of some details of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram showing the electric wiring circuit for operating the device.

As illustrated, the main frame of the machine comprises, two top side rails 15 and I6, which, as shown in section in Fig. 9, are sufficiently strong I.-beams. These I-beams have secured to their front end a heavy plate I! which will pref? erably be welded directly to the ends of the side rails I5 and I6, as shown in Fig. 2. A similarly heavy plate 3 is secured to the rear ends of the side rails l5 and IS.

The plates I1 and I8 mayv be secured by any desired means, preferably by welding. The two side rails 15 and I6 and the end plates I1 and I8 provide an integrated frame structure with the side rails held parallel and with the space between them, or more particularly the sawing part of the space between them, entirely open and unobstructed.

This frame is supported by outwardly diverging rear legs l9 and preferably formed of heavy angle iron and welded at 2! and 22 to the end plate I8, as best shown at the left end of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3. Likewise the front end of the fram is supported by diverging legs 23 and 24, Figs. 9 and 10, which are welded to the ends of plate H as indicated at 25 and 26 at the right of Fig. 2.

The bottom ends of the respective sets of legs l9 and 20 and 23 and 24 are positioned upon and secured to angle iron members 21 and 28 of substantial weight, the ends of the legs being welded to said angl bars and the angle bars forming a 3 support for the machine, distributing the load over any type of flooring or other supporting surface. A

The top surfaces 23 and 30 of side rails I5 and I6 form a runway support for a saw carriage designated generally by the numeral 3|. This saw carriage, shown in elevation in Figs. 1 and 3, and in plan view in Figs. 2 and 4, embodies a frame formed of four vertical T-iron standards 3|, 32, 33 and 34, shown in cross-section in Fig.

32 have the same relationship to side rail l5 that standards 33 and 34 have to side rail Hi. The four standards are shown of quite considerable extent, and are rigidly secured together in parallel relation by heavy transverse bars 35 and 36, which are positioned in planes above and below the side rail I 6.

A bar. 31, Figfz, is secured to T-bar uprights 3| and 32 in exactly the same manner that bar 35 is secured to uprights 33 and 34, and both bars 35 and 31 are mounted to overlie the surface 30 on side rails l6 and surface 29 on side rail l5, respectively.

The bar 35 has forked ends 38 and 39 extending outside the limits of uprights 33 and 34. Within the forked ends 38 and 39 of bar 35 are jo rnaled rollers 42 and 43 which rest and roll on the top surface 30 of side rail [6. Similarly within the forked ends and 4| of bar 31 are rollers 44 and 45 which contact and are adapted to roll along the top surface 29 of side rail l5.

Also journaled in sets of ears 46 and 41 extending outwardly from the forked ends 38 and 39 of bar 35 are a pair of vertically disposed rollers 43 and 49, which rollers engage the upper outside edge 50 of the side rail l6, Figs. 1 and 2.

Similarly mounted in cars 5| and 52 on the end portions 4| and 40 of bar 31 are rollers 53 and 54 which engage the outside upper edge 55, Fig. 2, of side rail l5. By this arrangement the saw carriage is held in straight line movement along and supported by the side rails l5 and I6, and particularly the top surfaces 29 and 30 thereof. The relation of the Set of rollers 44 and 54 and 42 and 48 respectively to the saw carriage and particularly to the top surface and Outer edges of the side rails 15 and I6 is well shown in Fig. 3.

Supported by journal boxes 56 and 51, Fig. 2, mounted upon bars 35 and 31 is a heavy saw shaft 58 having thereon a multiplicity of circular saws 59 mounted in a customary manner on the shaft for removal and replacement. The shaft 58 extends above bar 35 to one side of the frame members and is connected by coupling 60 with a gas engine indicated schematically at GI, and provided with a radiator 62, all of well known construction. The engine 6| has its base 63 supported upon a plate 64.

The plate 64 is supported by angle iron bars 65 and 66, Figs. 3 and 4, which are strongly welded at their ends to th T-bars 33 and 34, Figs. 2 and 3.

In a similar manner a saw shaft 61 is secured to the under side of the transverse bars 36 and 36, Figs. 1 and 3, by means of bearing blocks 88 and 69. Upon the shaft 61 are mounted a desired'number of circular saw disks 10 which are removably secured to shaft 61 in a customary way.

Extending to outside the limits of T-bar uprights 3| and 32 and rigidly secured at their sides and ends to lower ends of said uprights are a pair of laterally extended bars H and 12, Figs. 2 and 3. An extension 13 of shaft 61 goes through a coupling 73' to the shaft of a gas engine 14, schematically indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, This engine is provided with a radiator 15 and has its base 16 resting upon a plate Tl which is in turn supported by the bars H and I2.

Gasolene is supplied to the two motors 8| and 14 from a tank 18 supported by uprights 3i, 32, 33, 34. and fed to the engines through connections and carburetors, not shown, in a customary manner.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the upper saw shaft 58 is advanced somewhat: fromthe T lower saw shaft 61. The respectivesaws .59- and are in common vertical planes, but the saws 59 and 10 are so setain these planes thatconjointly the kerfs which they cut-constitute 'als'ingle cut completely dividing slabs, boards and planks in each sawing operation. e I The saws 59 and 10 are held on their respective shafts 58. and} by headers. 250-and JI-and spacers 252,. Fig. 3, in awen-knqwn way; As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5,1 provide on thespacers 252 a multiplicity, preferably three on each spacer, of cutting knives 254. The purpose of these knives is to cutoff knots 'orother projections from the side of the log '-which, adjacent the sawcut, mi'ght'otherwise "contact spacers of the saw arbor. s Q I In the type of sawing which I do, wherein the saw teeth enter andm'ove throug'h'thelog a, e ipqsii e tha niw ih w er erriage is traveling t'liaifis, along the grain; I have discovered that-f'cifc v ;ws ,fas"*customarily made; either'fwith the teeth substantially the width of the thickness o'f thesaw disk; or with th teeth v n a er e teelee bn' e h .t d i' not eiiectively curma; the kerf s a remo v the ciittingstherefro n. V i r 118,150 discovered that by making atooth'point with inwardly beveled sides' and a rearwardly beveled back so asto" producea sharp front" cutting edge and twoside cutting edges, and having these "edgeso f jsu'chl sizeand positionfth'at the kerf will be substantially widerthan the's'aw disk on each side thereor;allidifiiculties inusing my method of sawing have been overcome and the saw' travels;inl'air faccurate straight plane, through knots and; twists in'ftli I grainQwithout any tendency for the sawito weaf' o'r'bind." This construction is very well shownin Figs." 5"afan'd 5b.

' Referring to Fi'grwitwiu benote dj th'atthe front insert has a rightlline front face 234- and a beveled or sloping' rearsurface. 235. These two planes meet me sharpdg'e' 23 6"'which,j as shown in Fig. 5b, is very'coiis'ide'rably wider' thanlth'e thickness of metal of. tlie',sawjdisk at 231"] Also the sidewalls 238 and 239 ,"of the tooth point insert have. their "front "edgeseXtending in straight lines frof'n'the edge 236 to the saw disk plate, and the side wal1s'238 and 239 are hollowed out giving it substantiallysharp edges '240 and 24I along the sides of the tooth insert. I

The actual tooth point insert 242 isshow'n; in plan in Fig. 5a. ther'eshown'it is'rectangular' at its inside limits, and seats in a rectangular notch in the saw 'disk. indicated at 243 'bhIF g. 5a. The tooth point member 242 15 secured in the notch 243 b y welding with silver sem stererably using pliers to position the inserts which are. supplied with electric, weldir ig.curi"ent.f

means 't b filfi' 'aj p arctic f i i'ne s ag steam enqrdgmine gyo kinepw. sition is mounted directly upon the sawzgarriage tse ta be t s wn sinfies- .1- 3. @998: Ref ring to, Fig. 3, the uprighrs3 I and 33haye posiv tioned thereon and welded thereto at. and! respectively. an .angleiron :bar 1.9.- which extends in bothdirections outside of the limits of the uprights 3l' and 33. Asecond bar 92 is parallel to har-19 and is secured to the T shaped-uprights 32 and 34; which uprights' h'ave" upwardly extending portions 83 and 84, as 'clearlyshownin Fig. 3. Longitudinal bars "andf86-which"sub-= sta'ntially" overlie'th'e sidefails I 5 and; were securea tor transverse "care -is and' 'az makin frame rigidl'y'supported by the four uprights 3 I 33 and 32. andi34,;shown in Fig.2.

Theextended portions.83 and 84 of uprights 32 and 34 are connected at their tips by a transverse frame member 81 and are further braced, giving a truss-like effect, by members 88 and 09, as shown in Fig. 3. r T I i I I Extending downwardly from" cross bar 02, which is trussed by supports, 84 and bars 31, 88 and 89 ,'Fig.'3, are supporting bars 260 and 2H which extend f rom the ends of the above defined truss to the supporting bars 65 and 'II for the respective gasengine supports BI and I4, thusrnaking a very'rigid support for'the gas en gine.-

' Upon'th'e transverse bar I9 is rigidly mounted a'plat'e likeishelf 90. On thisshelf are two substantially identical electric motors 9I and 92 which have their respective motor shafts 93 and 94 in alignment. "K'On a cross-barf 95 jsecured "at its endsffto the plate and the transversebar'fl isniounte'd a gear box A shaft 91' extends from thegear box 96 and has thereon two pulley members 98 and 99 respectively} The shaft 91 extendsfinto the gear box and through worm-reduction gearing of standard t'ype mot shown) drivesa spur gear l00'and a shaftl'0'l mounted to extend through the gear box" 96. f- T j j f j The motor at-2. ha 9 i er pu lv 1 oz, and the electric motor'sha'ft' 94 has thereon" a drive pulley I03 of a very considerably larger diameter than the diameter of the pulley I02. A belt I04 connects the small pulley l02 of electric motor 9| with "thepulley 99;"anda second belt I 05 connectsthe'lar'ge pulley I I 03 with the] pulley Thus either motor 9| orfSZm'ay beoperated to drive the shaft 91 and the horiz'ontal gear [00. Whichever motor 9| or92j is inoperation will carry on the driving operation and the other and inactive motor will simplyhaveits parts act'as rolling idler's, but the smaller motor pulley lfl will obviously driveshaftjfl through pulley 99 much more slowly than will the larger pulley I03. The electric motors 9Iand 92 operate in reverse directions; The motor 9| which drives'shafts'l at the slow speedfefiects, through the means hereinafter. described, the forward movement of the saw carriage 3i at'asuitable spcedifqr'the sawing action. 'The motor '92 through its connections above described, 'drives the saw carriage: in'reverseorreturning positionat a much' more rapid speed than the" inotor 9| acts toforward the saw carriage duringthe sawing. action. I i The forward andbackward movement of y the saw carriage'is'efiected'in'the following manner: I Mounted in bearing'bloclijs I03 on longitudinal member 85, 8,'and I01 on side'r'ail I5,Fig; 2, is a vetrical shaft I08 "whichhas on, itsv upp fir end a large sprocket wheel I09 andpn itslower end-a spurgea-r H0" "The spurfge'armeshe'swith a rack II I 'onfthe w 'rtj'II-2 of'side rail I bea'm I5, Fig. Similarly mounted-inf a 'iieai'ing block" I I3 on the longitudinal -niember 86 and in a bearing block H4 on the sid'e rail; I6 is' a second vertical shaftIIfi, whichhas';on its-upper end a large sprocket wheel 'I Hi, an'a'bmts: lower end a pinion gear I I1; Figs/2 and 8. The pinion I-H meshes witha rack "I I8 secured to the "webI'IS of I-beam' l. f 1": :f," ,1} i' r: sprocketrchain-i20 runs over the drive gear I30 and around the sprocketewh'eel l I S and: also partly ar ou'nd the sprocket :.wheel.: -I-09 1 and is 7 driven by either electric motor 9I or electric motor 92 from shaft 91, in the one case to forward the carriage and in the other to return it much more rapidly than it is forwarded.

It wil lbe noted that the rack-engaging parts of pinions on vertical shafts I08 and H5 are thus both turned in the same direction, hence these shafts through racks III and H8 and the pinions I I and I I4, will produce a balanced drive along substantially the center of gravity of the entire saw carriage to move it along the side rails either forwardly for the sawing operation with the motor 9|, or rearwardly with a much more rapid return movement with motor 92. The means for automatically switching in alternating motors 9| and 92 will be later described.

Bolted to rear plate I8 is a heavy base plate I2I, Figs. 2 and 5, which carry welded at their rear ends a multiplicity of chuck plates I22. These chuck plates I22, are, therefore, rigidly and immovably held at the rear of the machine.

Similarly a base plate I23 at the front of the machine has welded to it at their front ends a multiplicity of chuck plates I24. The chuck plates I22 and I24 are shown in top plan view in Fig. 2 and in side elevation in Figs. 6 and 7.

As stated, the chuck plates I22 are rigidly welded to base plate I2I and chuck plates I24 are rigidly welded to base plate I23, in each instance so the chuck plates are held in parallel relation and spaced apart equal distances.

The entire assembly of chuck plates I22 is removably secured to end rear plate I8 by bolts I25. The front end assembly of chuck plates I24 is removably secured to a head on a piston rod I25 by bolts I21. It follows that complete assemblies of rear and front chuck plates may be provided, with the chuck plates spaced apart different distances on different assemblies for the sawing of different thicknesses of lumber, as, for example, inch boards, two inch planks and the like.

The front end movable base plate I23 has welded thereto a pair of side members I28 and I29, Figs. 2 and 9, which side members have secured thereto pieces I30 and I3I which overlie the top of side rails I and I6 and support the front end of the chuck plate assembly of chuck plate I24 for sliding movement on the side rail.

This sliding movement is effected by a piston or plunger, not shown, in pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder I32, which is supplied with fluid from a standard source, not shown, through a customary conduit I33, all as shown in Figs. 2 and '7.

Within the end areas of chuck plates I22 and I24 are secured a number, preferably three, pointed pins I34, as shown in Fig. 6. These pins are provided with cylindrical shanks seating in horizontal cylindrical bores in the ends of the chuck plates, as shown for both in dotted lines at I35 in Fig. 6.

The pins are drawn to conical points, as best shown in Fig. 6, which points extend in a true vertical line in the vertical planes of the centers of the chuck plates I22 and I24.

The several pins at the sides are secured by set screws I36 and I3! which enter threaded opening at the edge of the chuck plates. The central pin I34 is secured in position by a set screw I38 set in through an opening in the side of chuck plate. In each instance the set screws I36, I31 and I38 are set in so that they do not protrude beyond the plane of the chuck plate surface through which they are secured.

In securing a log in position within the space between'the two side rails, mechanism hereinafter more fully described, connected with a truck or tractor, lifts the log to the position indicated in dotted lines at I39 in Fig. 10. The ends of the log will be substantially in contact with the ends of pins I34. After the log has been positioned, as indicated at I40 in Fig. 2, the initial position of the log will be with its rear end close to the points of pins I34 on chuck plates I22 and spaced from the point of the pins I34 on chuck plates I24. While in this position fluid is introduced into the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder I32 by hand operated means not shown, which simultaneously moves the chuck plate assembly of base plate I23 and chuck plates I24 against the end of the log and forces all the pins I34 of the chuck plate assemblies into the respective ends of the log to secure the leg as shown in dotted lines at I40, Fig. 2.

The log is thus held by the chuck plates and the pins in the ends thereof, in the position shown in Fig. 2, where the several vertical rows of pins are shown inserted in the ends of boards and slabs, indicated in dotted lines at I4I. at the left of Fig. 2.

Where the log itself is moved on a saw carriage, as is customary practice, the saw teeth are positioned on the saw so they enter the wood of the log moving toward the direction of movement of the log. So far as I know this has always been done with circular saws. The result is that in such practice the saws themselves operate against the forward movement of the log, out into the grain of the log against the extent of the grain, and thus tend to retard the forward movement of the log and require much greater power to move the log across that movement of the saw teeth, and to effect the sawing 0f the log.

In the practice of my invention, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, where the saw carriage itself is moved, the saw teeth are turned so as to enter the wood of the log moving in the opposite direction from that of the relative movement of log and carriage. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the front of teeth I42 of saw 59 moves into the log down and in reverse direction to the relative movement of log and saw carriage, and the teeth I43 of saw" moves up and then away from the direction of relative movement of the saws and saw carriage.

The saws thus are not resisting the movement of the log relative to them, but are in a sense pulling themselves along the saw cut through the log.

Another very great advantage of this arrangement of the saws is that the grain is continually being cutoff first, while the saw moves away from the out already made and the grain part of the sawing comes out in shreds more like excelsior, whereas in the former method of sawing the grain is continually being chopped off in small fragments and comes out as what is referred to as sawdust.

The saving of power required to saw logs with this method is very great, and a cleaner more uniform saw cut results.

In the means shown for positioning the log for being gripped between the two chuck plate assemblies and held by the chuck plate pins, a tractor, designated generally as I44, Fig. 10, is provided with one or more forwardly extending levers I45 pivoted to stands I46 and I4! on the frame of the tractor.

Although not shown in full .detail, Fig. 11, the entire frame will preferably be made up of two sets of lever bars I45 and I45, mounted on op-- posite sides of frame member I48, preferably on opposite sides of the front part of the tractor. The bars I45 and I45 have pivotallyconnected thereto piston rods I49 connected with pistons, not shown, within cylinders I58. 3 These cylinders are hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders connected with a source of..fiuid under pressure, not shown, and controlled by customary valve means, not shown. a I Upon the front ends of the forwardly extend ing bars I45 and I45 are formedupwardlydi verging arms I5I and I52, which forma V-shaped' seat I53 to receive the side: oft-he log-indicated in dotted lines at I39. Mounted'ori-a cross rail" I54 are stands I55 having secured -tlierto ani axle I56 which pivotally supports aset ofleversretracted I51, I58 and I58 normally held in a position by springs I68. v i

The cross bar I54 has rigidly secured thereto a vertical stop plate-member I6I whichr-is-adapted to engage the edges of the I-bear'nside rail -I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 18.: I 4 a i Pivotally connected to the dependingends -of levers I51, 558 and I59 area series of stop bars I62, I63 and I84. These stop bars slide in spaced openings through member I6I, Fig.- 1 8. --Connections of any suitablekind, indicated in-dotted lines at I65, Fig. lO,go-- to pull buttons I66*located adjacent the position of the'driver on the tractor I ,7

When a selectedone of the pull buttonsis operated one or the other-of the stop-bars 52,1153 orI84, according'to the diameter -of the log -b eing positioned, will be caused to; project beyond the stop plate member, where it Will engage the bottom surfaces of I-'beam-"side rail-1I5gand-thus effect positioning of thelog, vertically so; that it will be substantiallycentered-inthe space he; tweenthe side rails-I 5*:and"I6-. Through connections, not shown, operation; of any of the pull buttons I 66rwi11-;sirnultaneously open the valves" (not'shown) to the'hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders I58 which will lift thelogito the position determined by the-particularstopbar I62, I63 or I64 which hasgbeen employed.

*By this means, with thc 1186 O r s nablek n and judgment by'the operator, the log to, be sawed may be accurately:positionedfjwithin, the .space.

pleted in the manner hereinafter described and the slabs and boards have'beendropped from between the side rails..|5 and I6,- means must be and is provided forwithdrawing tliem jromwthe Space below t mach ne topermitahews oem be positioned for sawing; Some sortof conveye ing meansmust ,be provided .Tfori thatpurpo'se, which may be a transverseconveyor for carrying the lumber laterally from themachine,'-and-yvhich' is not herein shown, or as shown, a conveyor for carrying the lumber endwise out of thelrnachine.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.thisconveying. means may consist of a,series, of. suitably spaced. rollers I61 each having end shafts .mounted bearing blocks I68 and-J68 secured to the floor plates I18and IlIco'f floor supports 2.1 and;,28 The endshaft I12 of the rollers l61 extends ver the top of-upright flange I1 3 or -iioor supporting 1 member 28 and has on said exte ding portion'of mesh, with "the. J roller-driving sprocket wheels I15, asclearly shown in Fig. l. 4 H Uponan extended portion of shaft I11 of the rear roller I61 is mounted a pulley I18 which is connected byra belt I19 with a small pulley I88 fast on. the shaft .I8I of an electric motor I82. ,The-electricmotor I82, like the electric motors 8|, Wand;. .;92, is ;driven from the same source of power, andithey are operated conjointly in the automatic cycle .ofsawing, .and thecircuit is so arranged that motor I82 is operated only when motor92 is operated for bringing back the saw carriage to its, initial operating position, as clearlyiindicatedtinthewiring diagram-0f Fig. 12. Having ,referenceto the wiring diagram of Fig. 12 and toother figures ofthe drawings, the automaticoperationpi the sawing cycle will now be desp ribed. j .7 v1 ,..Th e, gasenginesIlI and are first started in a customary manner by any suitable means, not specifically, shown Initially andbefore sawin'g starts .the throttles will be open v to givethe saws a high sawingspeedl- :.The..position of the electric circuits and ,--thel contacts will be as indicated in. the wiring diagranrof..Fig. l2,,.in which avail able current vfrom thaelectrical supply leads I83 and .I 84. of current supply are blocked from fur; iifihing current to the circuits by the open push button Switch indicated. at I85. I To start ,the automatic sawing operation push button-J85:ismomentarily operated to close the circuit running.throughsolenoids I86 and I81 through wires I88 .and. 188 which go from lead wire ;I 833130, return wireJ 88 connecting with supplygwire-IB-I bycontact therewith at ISI. 5 Having reference. to Fig. 1, it Will be noted that solenoid -;-I81 isumounted on -a bracket I 62 secured to upright .33, land the a'rmature of solenoid I81 is connected through anarm I 93- With a lever I 94 pivoted at I85 to upright 33;- -To-the outer end o,fz-..-lle ver,. I84 is secured a spring member I98 which, .onp'the return movement of the saw car riageto-jnitial position, engages the-end I 91- of a spring =.,contact.member 188 having thereon a contact point- I99 which is adapted to engagea contact surface 288 on a spring member 28I.

In :the wiring diagram the member 1 I 94 actu j ated by solenoid I81 is shown to have operated to swing..up..1.the\.ba1'- I84: and its attached spring member; I86 and thus release the spring contact army. lillutot; producecontactbetween contact points I89 .and 288. This closes-the circuits "to motorsSI and 92 through wires 282and 283.- But linewire 284 leading through motor 182 and connecting wire 285 to motor 92 is open at switch point;286,so no current canbe supplied to motors 92 andI.82.. W I So1enoid'186 has-moved switch 281 to contact switch point 283 and closeslcircuit through wire 289,-running to-electric motor 9| which thusfiS energized andoperatesto-move saw carriage 3 1' forsawingpperation. Th ground or'return current from motor 9| goes through-switchcontacts' I89.a nd288 through wire 2I8 to contact fl-l with supply wire [84.1 7.

.- Having reference 2 to Figs. -1, 2 and if-there" is mounted on theiront fork of bar 35 a-rod2l2' bentivas indicatedin Fig.- -2,'-tocome over 'the'top 11 surface 30 of the side rail I 6. This rod 212 has on its end a spring 2I3 which is positioned to engage a switch closing member 214. The switch closing member 214 operates the switches 201 and 2I5 in a switch box 25'. In the wiring diagram the switches 20! and H5 are shown exposed.

Contact of member 2I3 with member 2 will swing switch blade 20'! to break contact at 208 and put forwarding motor 9| out of operation. At the same time it will simultaneously cause switch blade 201 to contact switch point 209 and a second blade 2I5 to contact switch point 2I6. Switch point 206 is connected by wire 204 with electric motors 92 and I82 and electric current will with the closing of switches 20'! and 206 carry current through electric motors 92 and I82 through wires 203, closed switch at I99, 200 and through wire 2 I to line Wire I84.

The closing of the circuit by 2I5, 2I6 carries current through wire 2|! to solenoids 2I8 and H9 and thence through the solenoids and through wire I90 to line wire I84. These solenoid operate the throttle valves 220 and MI of the respective gas engines BI and I4. When the switches 2I8 and H9 are energized they operate the gas engine throttles to reduce the speed of the respective gas engines to an idling speed for the period during which the saw carriage is moved backward by the reversely operating motor 92, and While motor 9I is inoperative.

Having reference particularly to Fig. 4 in which the spring 2I3 on the end of Wire 2I2 has engaged the thrust member 2I4 for the double switch blades 201 and 2 I5 and the return trip of the saw carriage is about to begin, and referring al to e p i n of the parts in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the spring arm I 96 connected with solenoid I81 has its lower end directly in line with the swing arm I98 which has closed the contact at 200 with the Switch blade 20 I.

It follows that at the end of the return trip of the saw carriage 3| the lower end 222 of spring" arm I96 will engage the upperend of swing arm I98 and move it to th position at the left of Fig, 1, breaking the circuit through motor 92 atthat point and terminating rearward or return movement of the saw carriage,

The circuit through motor I82 will have been closed at the same time that the circuit through motor 92 is closed and motor I92 will, while the carriage is being returned to initial position, be

operated to operate rollers I61 to carry the re-' leased product of the sawing of the logs, that is the slabs, boards, planks or the like, endwise out of the machine.

There is provided at one side of the frame, shown next to the side rail I5, and rigidly at.- tachcd to the plate I23 at the head of the chuck plates, I24, a rack member 223, Figs. 2 and 7. This rack member is, of course, moved with the base plate I23 and the assembly of chuck plates I24. a

The teeth of th rack member are engaged by a pawl 224, as shown in Fig. 7, so when the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder has driven the chuck plate assembly I24 to hold the log by means of vertically alined pins. I34, as indicated in Fig. 2, the chuck assembly members of chuck plates I22 and I24 are firmly held against any releasing movement.

Upon the pawl 224 is a wing 225 which has a turned up end as indicated at 226 of Fig. '7. As shown in Fig. 5, a forwardly projected fingerlike lifter member 221 is connected with the saw frame and mounted to slide along the top surface 12 of side rail I5. This finger-like lifter member has a wedge-shaped end 228 and is directly in line with the outwardly raised wing portion 225 of the pawl 224. When, therefore, the saw carriage has been forwarded so that the beveled end 228 of lifter member 22! comes under the wing 226 of pawl 224 the pawl will be lifted from the toothed rack 223, releasing the chuck plate assembly of chuck plate I24 for forward movement.

Fast on the base plate I23 are a pair of bumper members 229 and 230 which have rearwardly extending therefrom bumper heads 23I and 232, as shown in Fig. 2. These bumper heads are in a position to be engaged by the front end 233 of the inside end parts of fork members 39 and M. This engagement takes place just after pawl 224 has been lifted to permit forward movement of chuck plate assembly of chuck plates I24 and somewhat before the operation to switch off current from motor 9 I.

The purpose is to simultaneously effect withdrawing of the pins I 34 on both sets of chuck plates I 22 and I24 from the ends of the completely sawed log, with the result that the slabs,

y boards, etc., are dropped upon the rollers I61 at the exact time switches 20! and 2 I 5 are shifted to break contact at 208 and to close contacts 206 and 2 I 6.

This brings about switching of current through motors I82 and 92, with the result that simultaneously the saw carriage is turned to be moved in reverse, and the slabs, boards or planks are moved by the rollers out of the machine.

Upon the return of the saw carriage to initial position contact of arm I96 with switch arm I91, Fig. l at left, will break the circuit at 200 putting motors 92 and I82 out of operation and stopping their operation of the return mechanism and of the slab and board removing rollers. At the same time the circuit to the throttles will remain active and the motor will continue to run at idling speed, that is solenoids 2I8 and 2I9 remain energized to hold the throttles for idling speed.

When, however, push button I is employed to start a new automatic sawing cycle, contacts at 206 and .2I6 are broken and contact established at 208 with the result that the throttles of the gas engines are released to produce full sawing speed of the saws, and motor 9| is energized to produce a forwarding movement or sawing movement of the saw carriage 3 I.

This automatic operation of the complete sawing cycle is a most important advantage of my invention, as it insures perfectly timed and coordinated sawing action with the retarded movement of the saw carriage, the return of the saw carriage at idle speed, operation of the discharge rollers to take the products of the sawing out of the machine and termination of action of the saw carriage until push button I95 is again actuated to bring about another sawing cycle.

Some other highly important advantages of my invention consist in the provision of a machine frame open between side rails, the positioning of a log, which may be of relatively small diameter and/or be crooked, within the space between the side rails of the machine, the holding of the log by pins and chuck plates thrust into the ends of the log and positioned to permit the saws to operate between pairs of chuck plates leaving the resulting sawed slabs, boards, planks or the like held by the chuck plate pins until released at the end of the sawing operation, the movable saw carriage and the saws thereon in relation to a fixedly held log to b operated on by said saws, the saws themselves being formed with cutting ends of the teeth having thereon a front cutting edge substantially wider on both sides than the thickness of the saw disk and with cutting edges on each side of the front cutting edge, and numerous other features of structure and design to make my sawing machine simple and sure in operation, economical to build and keep in operating condition, providing low cost for power, and being particularly adapted to operate upon logs of small diameter and which may be crooked and misshaped.

I claim:

1. A sawing machine, comprising a frame embodying a pair of longitudinally spaced rails, a stationary chuck supported on said frame at one end of the rails, a releasable chuck supported on said frame adjacent the other end of said rails for rigidly holding a log against the first named chuck, a mobile saw carriage supported on said frame for longitudinal movement, a first gang of laterally spaced rotary saw blades supported by said carriage, a second gang of laterally spaced saw blades supported by said carriage with each of the blades of the second gang in the same vertical plane as the corresponding one of the blades of the first gang whereby one blade of each gang operates in the same kerf to effect sawing the log into a plurality of slabs, a conveyor positioned beneath the frame for receiving the sawed slabs, a first motor connected to said conveyor for driving the same, a second motor connected to the saw carriage for moving the same relative to the frame, means cooperable between a portion of the saw carriage and the releasable chuck for moving the latter at the end of a sawing operation to simultaneously release all of the sawed slabs, a circuit including said first and second motors, and switching means in said circuit and engageable by a portion of said saw carriage at the completion of a sawing operation for energizing said first named motor and de-energizing said, second named motor.

2. A sawing machine, comprising a frame embodying a pair of laterally spaced rails, a stationary log gripping means supported on said frame at one end of the rails, a movable log gripping means supported on said frame adjacent the other end of the rails, driving means connected to the movable log gripping means for moving the same into engagement with a log, a pawl and rack forming a releasable connection between the frame and the movable log gripping means, a saw carriage supported on said rails for longitudinal movement between said gripping means, a member carried by said carriage and engageable with the pawl when the carriage approaches the movable log gripping means and being operable to release said gripping means from one end of the sawed log, and a bumper carried by said movable log gripping means and engageable with the saw carriage when the latter is completing its movement on the rails to simultaneously release the sawed 103 from the stationary gripping means.

3. A sawing machine, comprising a frame embodying a pair of laterally spaced rails, a saw carriage supported on said rails for longitudinal movement on the frame, a gang of circular saw blades supported by said carriage for rotary movement in planes parallel to the rails, an internal combustion engine operatively connected to said saw blades for rotating the blades at a first rate when the saw carriage is moved in one direction and at a second rate when the saw carriage is moved in an opposite direction, a throttle control operatively connected to a portion of said engine, a solenoid operator operatively connected to said throttle control, two electric motors operatively connected to the saw carriage for moving the same in opposite directions on the rails, a first circuit including a source of power and one of said motors, a second circuit including a source of power, the other of said motors and said solenoid operator, and a two pole switch mounted for movement between said circuits and positioned in the path of movement of the saw carriage to alternately energize said circuits on movement of the saw carriage.

ELMER A. FUGLIE.

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